Wiring device



Nav. 13, 1962 Filed nee. so, 195s R. O. WILEY ETAL WIRING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Eor BuI|is,Jr. 8

R0 O. Wile Y y y Nov. 13, 1962 R. o. WILEY TAL 3,064,230

WIRING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent @dice 3,064,230 WIRING DEVICE Roy 0. Wiley, Bridgeport, and Earl Bullis, Jr., Fairfield, Conn., assignors to The Bryant Eiectric Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 30, 195%, Ser. No. 783,953 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-217) The present invention relates generally to electric wiring devices and more particularly to lamp-holders for retaining and providing electrical engagement for electric lamps.

Still more particularly, the present invention is applicable for lamps of the prefocused type such as those used in projectors and certain other lighting systems.

Past constructions of prefocusing lampholders employ a ceramic molding as a base which supports and contains a concentric metal cup fastened by conventional means to the ceramic base. The metal cup is a complicated multipiece assembly which locates and supports the lamp lament at a predetermined position in the lighting system.

The present invention provides a relatively inexpensive lampholder having a few easily assembled parts. The lamp is retained in the base of the lampholder by a simple retaining ring having means thereon cooperating with the base of the lampholder for securing the ring thereto. The retaining ring comprises one of the terminals of the lampholder and the retaining ring and the terminal cooperate to secure each other to the base. Furthermore, a base constructed of a relatively inexpensive molded plastic insulating material is substituted for the ceramic base and metal cup taught in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel lampholder having relatively few parts, all of which are assembled easily.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel lampholder having a retaining ring therein for supporting an electric lamp where the retaining ring is provided with portions thereon cooperating with the base of the lampholder to aid in securing the retaining ring thereto.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a wiring device having an insulating cover mounted thereon in a novel manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel lampholder having a retaining ring mounted on an insulated base, where the retaining ring constitutes an electrical contact in the lampholder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wiring device of novel construction having a resiliently movable contact therein and having a terminal secured to the contact which moves in response to movement of the contact.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lampholder having a cup-shaped insulating base and a retaining ring located adjacent the open side thereof, and having means for securing the retaining ring to the base including a portion of the retaining ring cooperating with the base and a terminal of the lampholder engaging the retaining ring.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention and for further objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevation view of a wiring device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the wiring device shown in FIG. l and taken along the lines II-II thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the underside of the wiring device shown in FIGS. l and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the structure for 3,664,230 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 securing the retaining ring of the wiring device shown in FIGS. l through 3 and taken along the lines IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the retaining ring utilized with the wiring device shown in FIGS. l through FIG. 6 is a bottom plan View of the wiring device and the cover with the latter shown in its removable position;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 6 with the cover shown in its locked position, and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of' another embodiment of a retaining ring which may be utilized with the wiring device shown in FIGS. l through 7.

Referring to FIGS. l-7, it is to be noted that, a wiring device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention comprises a generally cylindrical one piece housing 2 formed from any suitable insulating material such as a molded plastic insulating material. The housing 2 is provided with a side wall 3 and an integral inner transverse bottom wall 5 located adjacent the lower end thereof. An outwardly facing shoulder 4 is formed integrally with the housing 2 on the inner side wall of the housing 2 adjacent the upper end thereof (FIG. 2). An annular retaining ring 6 constructed of a resilient material having suitable strength, such as an alloy of copper, is adapted to be located on the shoulder 4. The retaining ring 6 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed cutout slots 8 extending inwardly from the inner edge thereof and is further provided with a pair of diametrically opposed struck-out projections 1t)` extending inwardly of the housing 2 and located adjacent opposed ends of the slots 8, respectively. The retaining ring 6 is additionally provided with a generally T-shaped leg or projection 12 formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in the same direction as the projections 1t). The T-shaped leg 12 extends `outwardly at an angle of approximately with respect to the plane formed by the annular ring 6 and is adapted to cooperate with the housing 2 to aid in securing the annular ring 6 to the housing in a manner to be described hereinafter.

As shown in FIG.l 4 a generally T-shaped slot 14 is provided in the inner side Wall 3 of the housing 2 having its stem 16 extending downwardly from the shoulder 4. The side wall 3 of the housing 2 adjacent the stem 16 of the T-shaped slot 14 is inclined outwardly (FIG. 2) so that a relatively deep inwardly facing shoulder 18 is formed by the cross bar portion of the T-shaped slot 14. In order to form the slot 14 with single force and cavity dies requiring no side draws or Wedges, the housing 2 is provided with an elongated recess 20 aligned with the slot 14 and extending from the cross bar portion thereof to the underside of the housing 2. The recess 20 is provided with a barrier wall 22 located inwardly of the side wall 3 of the housing 2 in order to insulate the inside of the housing from the exterior. The barrier wall 22 preferably extends upwardly into the housing beyond the cross bar portion of the T-shaped slot 14.

As seen in FIG. 2, `the upper side of the wall 5 is provided with a centrally located recess 26 therein adapted for the location of a center contact 28 for the wiring device. The recess 26 extends completely through the bottom Wall 5 and a portion thereof adjacent the upper y side of lthe wall 5 is enlarged with respect to the portion of the recess adjacent the underside of the wall 5 to form a shoulder 24 therein. Viewing FIGS. 2 and 3, itis to be noted that a terminal receiving recess 30 extends inwardly of the underside of the Wall 5 and communicates with the recess 26. A at center terminal strap 34 is formed from a material having sutlicient structural strength and electrical conducting properties., such as a copper alloy, and is located to engage the bottom surface of the recess 30 of -tne housing 2.

A cylindrical center contact 28 is provided with an enlarged circular head 36, a central portion 38 of reduced diameter and a terminal engaging portion 40 of lesser diameter than the central portion 28. In order to secure the center contact 28 -to the housing 2 in a manner so that it is biased upwardly towards the open side of the housing, a coil spring 42 is loacted in the recess 216 and is provided with a diameter so that one end thereof engages the shoulder 24 of the recess 26. The enlarged circular head 36 of the cen-ter contact 28 is constructed of a diameter greater than the diameter of the coil spring 42 so that the opposite end of the spring 42 engages the underside thereof. Thus, the center contact 28 is secured to the housing by locating the spring 42 between the head 36 and the shoulder 44 and the terminal engaging portion 40 o-f the center contact 28 extends into the recess 30 and is located in an opening 46 in the terminal strap 34. The terminal strap 34 is generally oval in shape and has a portion thereof located in alignment with the lower end of the recess 26 and the remainder thereof resting on the bottom surface of the wall 5, so that the strap cannot extend into the recess 26. The Vterminal engaging portion 40 of center contact 28 may then be secured to the terminal `strap 34 by suitable means such as by locating the portion `40 in .the opening -46 in the terminal strap 34 and by then welding as indicated by the reference'character 48.

The wall of the housing 2 is provided with an opening 50 extending from the recess 30 to the interior of the housing 2 and the terminal 34 is provided with a machine screw 52 which threadedly engages an open- -ing in the terminal strap 34 and extends into the opening 50 of the bottom wall 24.

It is to be noted that the reduced area portion 38 of the contact 2S is of a size so as to be locatable in the reduced area portion of the recess 26. Thus, when the Vcentral contact 28 engages 'a contact on a suitable lamp,

the central contact 28 of the wiring device is biased downwardly whereby the portion 38 thereof is located in the reduced area portion of the recess 26, and the terminal strap 34 is moved away from the inner endA of the recess 30. Adequate contact pressure between the lampV and the central contact 28, therefore, is achieved.

The underside of the wall S is provided with a recess 32 which communicates with the inside of lthe housing 2 by means of an opening 54 extending through the wall 5 of the housing 2 and is located-adjacent the side wall 3. An L-shaped contact 56 is provided with a terminal portion 58 having 'a threaded opening thereinr (not shown) adapted for the location of a threaded terminal screw 60. The opening 54 is generally T-shaped so that the machine screw 60 is located in the stem por- -tion thereof and the stem of the L-shaped contact 56 is located inthe cross bar portion of the recess54 and then extends upwardly along the inner side of the housing terminating adjacent the open iside thereof. Accordingly, the cross bar portion of the opening 54 acts yto maintain non-rotatably the c-ontact 56 in the recess 32. The upper end of the stem of the L-shaped' contact 56 is provided with a reduced area extension 62 and the outer end of the extension 62 is provided with a pair of staking lugs 64 extending outwardly therefrom.

To assemble theretaining ring 6 to the housing 2, it is to beY noted that the T-shaped leg 12 of the ring 6 is located in the T-shaped slot 14 of the housing 2. Thus, the cross bar portion of the leg 12 engages the shoulders 18 formed by the cross bar portion of the T-shaped slot 14. As the plane of the retaining ring 6 is at an angle ofk approximately 100 with respect -to the plane formed by the T-shaped leg 12 thereof, the retaining ring 6 will be inclined at an angle of approximately 10 with respect to the open end o-f the housing 2. An integral struck out projection 66 is formed 4in the retaining ring 6 adajacent the outer edge thereof and located generally diametrically opposed to the T- shaped leg 12 thhereof. The projection 66 extends outwardly of the plane of the retaining ring 6 in the same direction as the projection 10 and the T-shaped leg 4 and is provided with a centrally located opening therein. The openingin the projection 66 is aligned with the extension 62 of the stem of the L-shaped contact 56 and the retaining ring is secured to the housing so that the retaining ring is resiliently moved into engagement with the shoulder 4. AS a result the extension 62 of the contact 56 is located in the opening `of the projection 66 and the staking lugs 64 of the extension 62 are spread apart, as shown in FIG. 2.

It is to be noted that by securing the retaining ring to the housing 2 in `the manner heinbefore described the retaining ring comprises one contact for the wiring device. It is to be further noted that by resilientlj moving the retaining ring into engagement with the shoulder 4 formed on the housing, the T-shaped leg 12 is biased upwardly against lthe shoulder 18 and outwardly against the side wall 3 to secure nonmovably the retaining ring 6 to the housing 2t. Accordingly, upward movement of the retaining ring 6 is thereby prevented, and downward movement of the retaining ring 6 is opposed by the biasing force on the T-shaped leg 12.

The retaining ring 6, as shown in this embodiment of the present invention, is adapted to receive a lamp having a bayonet typeV base. Thus, the lamp (not shown) is secured to the housing by aligning a pair of diametrically opposed bayonet lugs which extend outwardly from the side of the lamp base with the cut out slots 8 of the retaining ring 6. The central contact of the lamp will engage the central ycontact head 36 of the wiring device and the lamp Abase is rotated until the bayonet lugs are adjacent the sides 9 of the cut out slots 8. The lamp is then -moved downwardly into the Vhousing 2 until the bayonet lugs are located below the plane of the underside of the retaining ring 6 and the lamp base is further rotated until the bayonet lugs engage the projections 10 on the retaining ring 6. Y The lamp is again moved inwardly of the housing Yuntil the bayonet lugs are located below the projections 10 and the lamp is further rotated until the bayonet lugs of the lamp Vbase engage stops 68, shown in FlG. l. The stops 68 can ,y

tbe. formed as internal integral ribs in the housing 2 extending outwardly from the inner sidel walls thereof. Thus, it may be seen thatV the locating of the lamp in the housing 2 biases the center contact 28 downwardly so that good electrical contact between the central contact 28 andthe center contact of the lamp is ensured. The resistance toV downward motion of the center contact 28 by the -spring 42 acts to bias the lamp base upwardly so that the bayonet lugs on the lamp base engage the retaining ring 6 in a manner whereby good .electrical contact is also established.

An insulating cover 70 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 7) is provided to enclose the lower open side Yof the housing 2 and is formed from any suitable deformable orresilient insulatpreferably circularY and is provided with'a pair Vof spaced diametrically opposed notches 74 `along'its circumference v`which are ali-gnable with diametrically opposed projections 72 on the housing at one rotative position of the cover 70. The housing projections 72 extend outwardly from the inner surface of the side wall 3 of the housing 2 toward the center of the housing and are spaced from the 'undersurface of the transverse wall 5 to form clearance passages therebetween. The undersurface of :the transverse wall 5 is provided with a locking projection 76 extending downwardly therefrom andV adapted to be located Vin one `of the openings 78 in the cover 70 when the cover is in its locked position (FIG. 7).

The cover is secured to the housing 2 by aligning the The cover '70 is notches 74 with the projections 72 (FIG. 6) and moving fthe cover 70 upwardly past the projections 72 into partial engagement with the undersurface of the transverse wall 5. When the cover 70 is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the locking projection 76 and the opening 78 are misaligned so that the locking projection 76 maintains a portion of the cover 70 at a position spaced from the undersurface of the transverse wall 5. Since the cover 70 is deformable and slightly resilient the lengagement of the locking projection 76 with the cover 70 does not prevent theremainder of the coverv 70 from being in engagement with theundersurface of the transverse wall 5 in the unlocked position of the cover. Accordingly, to lock the cover 70 to the housing 2, the cover is merely rotated until the notches 74 and the projections 72 are misaligned so that substantially a breech type locking arrangement is formed. The cover 70 then is further rotated until the projection 76 snaps into one of the openings 78 of the cover 70. The cover is now in flush engagement with the under surface of the transverse wall 5 and further rotation of the cover 70 with respect to the housing 2 is prevented by engagement of the locking projection 76 with the side wall of the associated opening 78. It is to be noted that there are provided additional openings 80 in the cover 70 which are aligned with securing openings 82 in the transverse wall 5 when the cover is in its locked position.

To remove the cover from the housing, the cover 70 need merely be resiliently moved away from the undersurface -of the wall 5 until the locking projection 76 is no longer located in the opening 78. The cover can then be removed from the housing by being rotated to the position shown in FIG. 6, whereat the notches 74 and projections 72 are aligned.

Referring now to the illustration of another embodiment of a retaining ring shown in FIG. 8, it is to be noted that this embodiment of the retaining ring is substantially similar to the retaining ring shown in FIGS. l through 5. Accordingly, similar parts will be designated with the same numeral primed. Thus, the retaining ring 6 is provided with a T-shaped leg 12' similar to the T-shaped leg 12, shown in FIG. 4. The retaining ring 6' is also provided with downwardly extending projections 10' and is formed with an integral contact 66 extending downwardly from the plane thereof in the same direction as the T- shaped leg 12'.

The integral contact 66 is formed on the retaining ring shown in this embodiment of the invention as compared to a separated contact 66 shown in the previous embodiment. The T-shaped leg 12 extends outwardly from the plane of the retaining ring 6 at substantially 100 as shown in the other embodiment of this invention and is assembled to the housing 2 in the same manner as hereinbefore described except that the contact'66 extends downwardly along the inner side of the housing 2 through the cross bar portion of the opening 54 where it is secured to a separate terminal 58. The terminal 58 is provided with a terminal screw 60' and an opening 59 extending therethrough, and the lower end of the contact 66 is provided with a reduced area extension 61 which is located in the opening 59 of the terminals 58 and is secured thereto by suitable means such as staking or welding. Thus, it may be seen that the retaining ring is secured to the housing in substantially the vsame manner as in the first embodiment of the invention and it again constitutes one contact of the -wiring device.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description merely relates to specific embodiments of this invention and it -will be seen that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is specifically intended that the foregoing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. A wiring device comprising an elongated housing of insulating material having an open side, said housing having a base portion with recesses for seating of respective conductive members, a closure member for covering said base portion recesses, a conductive ring member being located to be adajcent to the open side of said housing, means for non-movably engaging said ring member with said housing and said closure member with said housing base portion in the aforementioned respective locations and for conductively securing said ring member to one `of said conductive members, said en- -gaging means including one projection integral with said housing and extending laterally inward for engagement with an arm of said ring member to hold the latter inwardly of said open housing side, said engaging means also including another projection integral with said base portion and extending laterally inward for engagement with said cover member so as to hold the latter inwardly and against said base portion to cover said base portion recesses, said one and said another projections being laterally offset from each other and being open longitudinally to the exterior, respectively through said base portion and through said open side so as to facilitate molding of the same.

2. A wiring device adapted for energizing and supporting a lamp, said device comprising a housing having a generally cylindrical cavity extending inwardly from an open side thereof to a bottom wall thereof, an outwardly facing shoulder extending annularly about said cavity at least to a substantial extent and being located adjacent but inwardly of said housing open side, a conductive generally annular ring member of resilient material, said ring having an elongated leg extending prior to assembly radially outward of said ring and toward the bottom wall of said cavity, a portion of said leg engaging a housing surface facing the bottom wall of said cavity so as to hold said leg against movement outwardly of said cavity, said ring during assembly being pivoted about said leg into seating engagement with said shoulder so as to bias said leg into engagement with the wall of said cavity and so as to place said leg in longitudinal tension, a pair of terminal members suitably secured to said housing in spaced relation and in proximity to the inmost extent of said cavity, and a conductive arm extending between and being aixed to one of said terminal members and said ring to hold said ring firmly seated on said shoulder.

3. A wiring device adapted for energizing and supporting a lamp, said device comprising a housing having a generally cylindrical cavity extending inwardly from an open side thereof to a bottom Wall thereof, an outwardly facing shoulder extending annularly about said cavity at least to a substantial extent and being located adjacent but inwardly of said housing open side, a conductive generally annular ring member of resilient material, said ring having an elongated leg extending prior to assembly radially outward of said ring and toward the bottom wall, a portion of said leg engaging a housing surface facing the bottom wall of said cavity so as to hold said leg against movement outwardly of said cavity, said ring during assembly being pivoted about said leg into seating en- `gagement with said shoulder so as to bias said leg into engagement with the wall of said cavity and so as to place said leg in longitudinal tension, a pair of terminal members suitably secured to said housing in spaced relation and in proximity to the inmost extent of said cavity, and a conductive arm forming an integral part of said ring and extending inwardly of said cavity to engage one of said terminal members and to hold said ring rmly seated on said shoulder.

4. A wiring device adapted for energizing and supporting a lamp, said device comprising a housing having a generally cylindrical cavity extending inwardly from an open side thereof to a bottom wall thereof, an outwardly facing shoulder extending annularly about said cavity at least to a substantial extent and being located adjacent but inwardly of said housing open side, a conductive gen- '7 erally annular ring member of resilient material, said ring having an elongated leg extending prior to assembly radially outward of said ring and toward the bottom Wall of said cavity, a portion of said leg engaging a housing surface facing the bottom wall of said cavity so as to hold said leg against movement outwardly of said cavity, said ring during assembly being pivoted about said leg into seating engagement with said shoulder so as to bias said leg into engagement with the Wall of said cavity and so vas to place Said leg in longitudinal tension, a pair of terminal members suitably secured to said housing in spaced relation and Vin proximity to the inmost extent of said cavity, and a conductive arm forming an integral part of one of said terminal members and extending outwardly through said cavity to engage said ring and to hold 15 said ring firmly seated on said shoulder.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas et al. June 13, Ellis Mar. 16, Douglas Aug. 6, Douglas May 17, Gates Oct. 16, McKinley Dec. 11, Ludwi-g Dec. 25, Mosimann Mar. 11, Cochran June 28, Anderson Aug. 13,

FOREIGN PATENTS Y Germany Mar. 9, 

